# VesselFinder vs Ship Radar 24

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Ship Radar 24 at 100% against VesselFinder's 28%. Ship Radar 24 also leads on ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). VesselFinder's advantage is chart position (#206 vs unranked). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

VesselFinder ships an update fortnightly, Ship Radar 24 every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 15, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | VesselFinder | Ship Radar 24 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.1 (232 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vesselfinder/id918080862/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **232** | — |
| Positive reviews | 28.2% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#206** | — |
| Size | 47 MB | 188 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [AstraPaging Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/438160792) | [Enrico Schulze](https://appshunter.io/developer/6786421724) |

## What reviewers say

### VesselFinder

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vesselfinder/id918080862)

**Currently charting:** #206 Top Free · Navigation (US App Store)

Track ships and monitor maritime traffic globally in real-time. Access detailed vessel information, movement history, and predicted routes. Ideal for maritime professionals and enthusiasts alike.

**Highlights:** Real-time vessel tracking, Vessel movement history, Predicted routes and ETAs, Comprehensive vessel particulars, Port call details, My Fleet for favorite vessels, Weather overlays

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and intuitive user interface
- 💰 Free version provides basic functionality
- 🗺️ Clear map display with sea blue and land green
- 📊 Comprehensive vessel information available
- ⚓ Good for casual ship tracking and hobbyists

**What reviewers complain about**

- ⏱️ Severely outdated vessel position data (days old)
- 🐛 App freezes on startup/splash screen frequently
- 💸 Misleading free version with limited functionality
- 🔄 Inconsistent and unreliable data updates
- ❌ Search functionality requires paid version

**Reported bugs**

- App freezes on splash screen and won't load
- Crashes when attempting to zoom on map
- Black screen display on certain devices
- App won't open or opens after long delays
- Crashes on iOS 11 and newer versions

**Requested features**

- Real-time GPS tracking instead of delayed AIS data
- Distance measurement tool restoration
- German language support
- Destination and departure information display
- Ability to remove ads without expensive pro version


### Ship Radar 24

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ship-radar-24/id6786805214)

Track ships live with AIS data, view routes, and get arrival times. Access detailed ship and port information, and manage your favorite vessels. Ideal for maritime enthusiasts and industry professionals.

**Highlights:** Live ship tracking with AIS, View ship routes and schedules, Detailed ship and port information, Fleet management for favorite vessels, Arrival planning, Nautical charts and bathymetry

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is VesselFinder free?

VesselFinder is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Ship Radar 24 free?

Ship Radar 24 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do VesselFinder or Ship Radar 24 have ads?

VesselFinder shows ads; Ship Radar 24 does not.

### Which is updated more often, VesselFinder or Ship Radar 24?

VesselFinder ships an update fortnightly, and Ship Radar 24 every 3 weeks. Most recently, VesselFinder was updated on October 15, 2026 and Ship Radar 24 on October 15, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*